James Crabtree, author of The Billionaire Raj, discusses the extensive illegal funding in Indian elections. Topics include paid political rally attendees, multiple party recruitment by election agents, and the challenges of reforming corrupt practices in campaign financing.
Illegal cash bribes fund Indian elections, raising corruption concerns.
Political rally attendees paid by agents work for multiple parties, questioning genuine support.
Deep dives
High Cost of Indian Elections
India's election process is one of the world's most expensive, with an estimated $5 billion spent by political parties in the previous election. This amount, expected to rise to $7 billion, is significantly higher than the median income of Indian citizens. A substantial portion of this expenditure is done illegally, involving cash bribes to voters and unreported expenses.
Influence of Money in Politics
The nexus of cash and power in Indian elections allows corporations to anonymously fund political parties, while electoral bonds and shell companies facilitate the flow of money. The government's recent rules have made it easier for parties to raise funds, contributing to the costly nature of Indian elections. Professor James Crabtree emphasizes the urgent need for reform in the Indian election financing system.
Corruption and Election Influence
Political rallies in India often involve paid attendees recruited by agents who work for multiple parties. These attendees may cheer for rival candidates in different rallies on the same day, driven by financial incentives rather than genuine support. The prevalence of cash inducements and the need to raise significant funds lead to extensive corruption in Indian politics, making it challenging for politicians to remain uncorrupted within the existing spending limits.
India will spend billions of dollars on its general election this year, much of it illegally. Rahul Tandon visits a political rally in Kolkata where many participants have been paid to attend, while Ed Butler speaks to an 'election agent' tasked with recruiting those crowds, often for different political parties at the same time. James Crabtree, author of the book The Billionaire Raj, describes the extent of illegal election funding in India, and what can be done about it.
(Photo: BJP supporters at an election rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Dehradun, India. Credit: Getty Images)
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